Oil control device



P 1938- R. w. JOHNSON 2,129,937

OIL CONTROL DEVICE Filed May 15, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l J7 .53 56 5d INVENTOR "f': I W, 7 I ATTORNEYS M Sept. 13, 1938. R. w. JOHNSON ,1

OIL CONTROL DEVICE Fil ed May 15, 1955 2 SheetsSheet 2 INVENTO 7 BY 7 6@W,&Z4w, 7122440, 1 2 4 ATTORNEY 5 Patented Sept. 13, 1938 2,129,937

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE OIL CONTROL DEVICE Roy W. Johnson, Milwaukee, Wis. Application May 13, 1935, Serial No. 21,134 3 Claims. (Cl. 236-99) This invention relates in general to an oil con- Figure 6 is a detail view partly in elevation trol device designated to regulate the flow of oil and partly in cross section and. showing the exfrom a reservoir or tank to a burner especially pansion tube, immersion well and associated where the oil is fed by gravity. parts.

One object of the invention is to provide a de- Referring to the drawings, and'more especially vice of this character which may be advanto Figure 5, it will be seen that the device may tageously used with gravity feed oil fired water be employed in connection with a domestic hot heaters or the like, the device being adapted to water heater designated generally at I and of the respond to temperature conditions so that oil is type wherein the water is heated by means of supplied to the burner when the temperature of an oil burner 2. From a tank or reservoir 3, 10

the water drops below a certain value andis autowhich contains the supp of Oil, a d line 4 matically shut off when the temperature rises to extends t0 the oil burner 2. In the feed line a a predetermined point. shut-off valve 5 may be provided. An oil con- Another object of the invention is to provide l ev ce e b y the P s invention l5 a device of this character and which is simple designated generally at 6 and is incorporated in and compact in construction, reliable and efiecthe feed line. The action of the oil control detive in operation and easily and comparatively vice is regulat y a therme-lespehslve element inexpensive to manufacture and install. desi nated generally at I.

The device is so constituted that while it is Th l on r l evi e 6 mprise a c sin readily reponsive to the limits of any selected designated gene y at W The lower P011101! 20 temperature range it operates with certainty and f e casing 18 P d W h a et ll eflectiveness and especially so in connection with q pp w th a suita le strainer and screen dethe shutting oil! of the oil supply, the latter operavice designated at The te Passin tion being performed with a snap action. throug t Strainer, flows p t ough the body Along with these advantages the device is adf n nl t v lve 43, h v lv b y 3 h vi 25 justable and readily so to maintain a high or low an axial p rt l4 a d transverse parts f A fire, needle valve I6 is slidably interfltted with the Another object of the invention is to introduce Valve y and Controls the 110w Of 011 th u nto the mechanism a'large factor of safety the ports i4 and IS. A spring i1 encircles the whereby in the event of failure of the means duc upp r d of h v lv dy a d as its 30 which responds to the temperature the flow f lower end abutting against the valve body and oil willbe automatically shut off. its upper end abutting a flanged collar l8 se- Other objects and advantages reside in cercured t0 the needle Valve The Spring biases tain novel features of the construction, arrangethe valve t Op position- A fl I9 is Provided ment and combination of parts which will be Within t e casing and 18 located in illiquid pp y 35 hereinafter more fully described and particularly chamber A lever is attached to the t pointed out in the appended claim reference and is fulcrumed as at 22 on a mounting bracket being had to the accompanying drawings, forming 23. The lever 2| has a curved end 24 which bears a part of this specification, and in hich; against the flange of the collar l8 so that as the Figure 1 is aview in longitudinal vertical cross level liquid in the p y m e 29 es 40 section showing an oil control device embodying the fleet Will be el va e a d its lever 2| rOeked the present invention, parts being shown in 1 about the fulcrum 22 to cause the end 24 thereof vation for the sake of illustration; to press down on the flange of the collar l8 and Figure 2 is a view in horizontal cros ti n close the valve. As the level in the chamber taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1 and looking in the 0 d ps th a t on is rev rsed and'thespring ll 45 direction of the arrows; functions to open the valve. In this way a Figure 3 is a similar view taken on lin 3 3 of selected or predetermined level isrmaintained in Figure 1, and looking in the direction of the arthe ehambe! v I l rows; In the event grit or sedimenttends to prevent 5 Figure 4 is a view in transverse vertical cross seating of the valve lfi'uponrise of liquid in the section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1; chamber 20 above the predetermined level, the

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view partly in eleliquid will flow over a partition or dam 25 and vation and partly in section illustrating one way into an auxiliary chamber 26. This will. result in which the oil control device may be installed in the elevation of an auxiliary float 21 which or practically applied; and has a lug 28 pivotally connected to one endof- 55 a latching lever 29. The latching lever 29 is fulcrumed as at 38 on the bracket 23 and has a latching hook 3| engageable with the shoulder 32 of an auxiliary valve operator designated generally at 33. This operator 33 is pivotally mounter as at 34 on the bracket 23 and is biased by means of a weight 35 and a spring 36 to swing sharply downwardly. Normally, it is prevented from such swinging movement by the latch 3|, but when the latch is disengaged by elevation of the float 21, the weight 35 and spring 36 are allowed to operate and the operator 33 swings quickly down and punches the valve |6 closed. The operator 33 has an arm 33' projecting exteriorly of the casing and providing a means whereby it may be reset. When reset the latch 3| automatically snaps into operative position and the float 21 displaces the fuel in chamber 26 back into chamber 20 so that the device is again ready for operation.

The casing I0 is provided with an outlet 40 and adjacent this outlet the casing has an integral vertical sleeve 4| formed with a valve;

seat 42. A tubular outlet valve 43 is provided and has a beveled portion 44 designed to engage the seat 42 and also has a reduced extension 45 provided with a metering slot 46. The tubular valve 43 is not only guided in the'sleeve 4| but also in a guide structure 41 provided in the horizontal web integral with the upper part of the casing. A spring 48 encircles the valve 43 and has a lower end engaged against the upper end of the sleeve 4| and its upper end engaged undera collar 49 suitably fixed to the valve so that the tendency of the spring 48 is to open the valve. The valve is constrained to vertical movement by means of a guide pin 50 extending diametrically therethrough and having its ends projecting therefrom and working in slots 5| of the guide structure 41. An operating lever52 is provided for the valve and is fulcrumecl on a cross pin 53 supported by the casing. One portion of this lever has a laterally extending boss or projection 54 which bears against the collar 49 so thatwhen the lever is swung in one direction it will be effective to close the valve.

The lever 52 is controlled as to its position by means of a bellows 55 contained within a cuplike carrier 56 suitably fastened to the top 51 of the casing. This bellows is filled with a suitable volatile liquid and is filled under vacuum. The

liquid not only fills the bellows but also a connecting tube 51' and an expansion tube 58 held at the inner end or bottom of an immersion well 58' by means of a spring 59. The well 58 is tapped into the side of the water heater as illustrated diagrammatically in Figure 5. As the temperature of the water in the heater rises the expansion tube increases the pressure in the bellows 55, and this pushes the bellows downwardly. This motion of the bellows is transmitted to the lever 52 by means of a stud 60 connected with the upper end plate of the bellows and having a bolt 6| threadedthereinto and secured in position by a lock nut 62'. The lower end of the bolt 6| is tapered and engages in a similarly formed socket 63 provided on the lever.

The bellows works against a spring 65 which has one end engaged over a boss66 of the lever and its other end bearing against an abutment 61*threadedly interconnected with an adjusting bolt 68.. The bolt 68 has a swivel-like mounting 69 on'the casing top and its upper end projects above the casing and is enlarged and knurled as indicated at 10 so that it may be turned with facility. A portion 1| of the abutment projects through and is guided by a slot 12 in the side wall of the casing so that as the bolt is turned the abutment moves up or down but does not rotate. In this way the tension of the spring may be varied as desired. The projecting portion 1| may also be used as an indicator or pointer and in such capacity coacts with suitable indicia such as Warm, Medium, Hot, or suitable numerals provided on an indicator plate 1| fastened to the casing adjacent the slot 12.

The movement of the lever 52 is limited in one direction by means of a stop screw 15 threaded through the top of the casing and held in position by a lock nut 16. When the lever 52 swings up against the stop screw 15 it allows the valve 43 to open under the influence of its spring 48 whereas when it swings down to its other position its projection 54 coacts with the valve collar 49 to close the valve. In order that the valve may be closed with a snap action, a U-shaped permanent magnet 11 is secured in any suitable manner as by means of a screw and washe 18 to one end of the lever and is designed to coact with a magnetic pole or stop 18 adjustably supported on the casing by means of a stud 19 threaded to the casing and secured in position by a lock nut 88.

With a device of this character, as the temperature of the water reaches a predetermined value the volatile filling within the bellows is expanded and the bellows plate 55' moved downwardly with the result that the lever 52 is rocked in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 1, thereby moving the valve toward its closed position against the action of its spring 49. As the valve approaches its closed position the magnetic field of the magnet 11 traverses the magnetic body 18 and when the body 18 is threaded by suflicient flux, these parts 11 and 18 coact to close the valve with a snap action. As the water cools ofi or as it is replaced by cold water the volatile filling of the bellows contracts and the spring 65 rocks the lever 52 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 1, permitting the valve 43 to open under the influence of its spring 48. The extent of opening of the valve may be varied by varying the adjustment of the screw 15.

In the event the bellows or the elements connected thereto ,should leak, atmospheric pressure willbewstabiished within the bellows and this will allow the safety spring 85 interposed between the shoulder 86 and the bellows casing (and now no longer working against atmospheric pressure) to automatically swing the lever 52 downwardly and close the outlet valve. Normally, however, the valve is closed under the controlling action of the bellows, although in the final phases of the closing movement the magnet 11 comes into action and insures closing of the valve with a snap action, as above described.

The rate to which the fuel is supplied to the burner when the valve 43 is fully open is determined by the adjustment of the screw 15 which may be set to limit the extent of opening of the valve 43 as desired. Where it is desired to maintain a low flre flame the body 15 which functions not only as a magnet pole but also as a stop may be set by adjustment of its stud 19 to regulate the low flre flame.

While I have shown and described one construction in which the invention may be embodied, it is to be understood that this construction has been selected merely for the purposes of example or illustration and that various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

The invention claimed is:

l. A control device of the character described comprising a casing having a liquid supply chamber therein and provided with an outlet, a valve in the casing cooperable with the outlet to regulate flow therethrough, spring means biasing the valve to open position, a single lever fulcrumed within the casing and cooperable with the valve to force it to closed position when swung in one direction, said casing having a top overlying said lever, a bellows interposed between the top and lever and having a member bearing down on the arm of the lever engaged with the valve, said bellows having a volatile filling therein and being effective to cause the lever to close the valve when the bellows is expanded under the influence of rising temperature on said volatile filling, spring means interposed between the top of the casing and the lever and engaged with the lever on the side thereof opposite to that engaged by said member and opposing the action of the bellows and means operable from the exterior of the easing for adjusting said spring means to regulate the temperature at which the valve is closed.

2. A control device of the character described comprising a casing having a liquid supply chamber therein and provided with an outlet, a valve in thev'casing cooperable with the outlet to regulate flow therethrough, spring means biasing the valve to open position, a single lever fulcrumed within the casing and cooperable with the valve to force it to closed position when swung in one direction, said casing having a top overlying said lever, a bellows interposed between the top and lever and having a member bearing down on the arm of the lever engaged with the valve, said bellows having a volatile filling therein and being effective to cause the lever to close the valve when the bellows is expanded under the influence of rising temperature on said volatile filling, spring means interposed between the top of the casing and the lever and engaged with the lever on the side thereof opposite to that engaged by said member and opposing the action of the bellows, means operable from the exterior of the casing for adjusting said spring means to regulate the temperature at which the valve is closed, a permanent magnet secured to the end of the arm of the lever engaged with the valve and a stationary magnetic member carried by the casing and cooperable with said permanent magnet to effect closing of said valve with a snap action.

3. A control device of the character described comprising a casing having a liquid supply chamber therein and provided with an outlet, a valve in the casing cooperable with the outlet to regulate fiow therethrough, spring means biasing the valve to open position, a single lever fulcrumed within the casing and cooperable with the valve to force it to closed position when swung in one direction, said casing having a top overlying said lever, a bellows interposed between the top of the casing and the lever, said bellows being hermetically sealed and having a pressure therein below atmospheric, a shouldered member connected to the bellows, projecting exteriorly thereof and bearing down on the arm of the lever engaged with the valve whereby the bellows is effective to cause the lever to close the valve when the bellows is expanded, spring means interposed between the top of the casing and the arm of the lever on the opposite side of its fulcrum from that engaged with the valve and opposing the action of the bellows, means operable from the exterior of the casing for adjusting said spring means, a safety spring having one end engaged with the shoulder of said member, and a fixed abutment for the opposite end of said spring, said safety spring being normally ineffective but .functioning, should the bellows leak, to close said valve.

ROY W. JOHNSON. 

